matthew, in short.

The following is from an eyes-closed session, read the week after our BS group at 1st Trinity finished studying (in depth) the whole Gospel of Matthew--a process that lasted over a year.

Awesome.

All lines/phrases/sentences/words are taken directly from Matthew--NRSV or my translation.

Dig it.

(Use freely, BUT if read aloud, PLEASE do not read the chapter headings,(i.e. chapter 1, chapter 2, etc.) as that would disrupt the flow of the meditation. The chapter numbers are solely for visual organization. read slowly, pause for reflections in a sort of lectio divina http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectio_Divina style).


Matthew, in short:




CHAPTER 1

The genealogy of Jesus
the Messiah,
the son of David,
the son of Abraham

Mary was engaged to Joseph

He will save his people from their sins (1:22)

Emmanuel. (1:23)

CHAPTER 2

Jesus was born.

"Where is the child who has been born,
king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising.”

Herod, king of the Judeans, was afraid.

The magi were overwhelmed with joy.

Joseph and Mary fled by night to Egypt (2:13)

When Herod died… Joseph made his home in a town called Nazareth.

CHAPTER 3

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness

Prepare the way of the Lord (3:3)
I baptize you with water.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (3:11)

“This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased (3:17)”









CHAPTER 4

He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”

John was arrested

Jesus made his home in Capernaum.

He began to proclaim.

Repent!

For the Kingdom of heaven has come near!

“Follow me. I will make you fish for people

Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom,

Healing,
Curing,
Casting out demons

Great crowds followed him.

CHAPTER 5:

Jesus went up the mountain.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
"Blessed are those who mourn,
"Blessed are the meek,
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,
They will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful,
Blessed are the pure in heart,
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
They will be called children of God. 1

Rejoice and be glad.

Let your light shine.

I have not come to abolish the law or the prophets.
Be reconciled to your sister or brother,
Then come offer your gift.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out.

Let your “yes” be yes! And your “no” be no!

Turn also the other cheek.

Love your enemies.

Pray for those who persecute you.

Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

CHAPTER 6

Do not be like the hypocrites!

Do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Pray to your Father in secret:

Our Father, in heaven, hollowed be your name…”

Save us from the Evil one!

Forgive others and God will forgive you.

Do not be like the hypocrites!

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.

No one can serve two masters.

Don’t worry.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and its justice, and all these things will be given to you.








CHAPTER 7

Do not judge.

Do not throw your pearls before swine.

Knock; and the door will be opened for you.

Do to others as you would have them do to you—This is the law and the prophets.

Enter through the narrow gate.

Beware of false prophets. You will know them by their fruits.

The wise man built his house on a rock.

CHAPTER 8

Jesus came down from the mountain.

He said to the leper: “Be made clean!”

“Only speak the word, Lord, and my servant will be healed.”

“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

Let the dead bury their own dead.

“What sort of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!”

The demons left the men and entered the swine.

CHAPTER 9

Take Heart, son! Your sins are forgiven!

This man is blaspheming.

They were filled with awe, and glorified God.

Matthew, Follow me.





Many tax collectors and sinners came to dinner with Jesus and his disciples.

I desire mercy—not sacrifice.

New wine is put into fresh wineskins.

If I only touch his cloak I will be made well!

Take heart, daughter!

The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping.

Their eyes were opened.

The one who had been mute spoke.

The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.

CHAPTER 10

He gave them authority.

Proclaim the Good News, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Beware. They will flog you.

You will be dragged before governors and kings.

It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

You will be hated.

The one who endures to the end will be saved.

Have no fear! Do not be afraid!

I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Those who find their life will lose it.
Those who lose their life for my sake will find it.



To what shall I compare this generation?...

Wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.

“Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees conspired how to destroy him.

He will proclaim Justice to the Gentiles.

Can this be the Son of David?

He is the King of the Demons!

By your words you will be justified, and by your words condemned.

No sign will be given but the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.

CHAPTER 13

The Kingdom of heaven is like one who sowed good seed.

The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,

The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast,

Like hidden treasure, like a merchant, like a fish net.

The angels will come.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!

Have you understood all this?

Prophets are not without honor except in their own hometown.



CHAPTER 14

We have nothing but five loaves and two fish.

Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

Lord save me!

Truly, you are the Son of God!

CHAPTER 15

For the sake of your tradition you make void the word of God.

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles, but what comes out of it.

Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.

CHAPTER 16

Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees!

Who do you say that I am?

Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and death

God forbid it, Lord!

Get behind me, Satan!

Take up your cross and follow me.

CHAPTER 17

I will make three dwellings. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

This is my Son, the beloved! With him I am well pleased. Listen to him!

Do not be afraid.




If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…you will move this mountain.

The Son of man is going to be betrayed.

Open its mouth. You will find a coin.

CHAPTER 18

Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

If your hand or foot causes you to stumble, cut it off!

It is not the will of your father that one of these little ones should be lost!

Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there, among them.

Forgive not 7 times, but 70 x 7!

CHAPTER 19

Let the little children come to me.

Sell your possessions. Give the money to the poor.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Who, than can be saved?

For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.

Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

CHAPTER 20

The Son of man will be handed over, mocked, flogged, and crucified.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?

Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.

The son of man came not to be served but to serve,

and to give his life a ransom for many.



CHAPTER 21

“Look your King is coming to you. Humble, and mounted on a donkey.”

Hosanna to the Son of David.

He drove out all who were selling and buying,
and overturned the tables of the moneychangers.

May no fruit ever come from you again!

By what authority do you do these things?

The tax collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom ahead of you!

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

The chief priests and the Pharisees wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds.

CHAPTER 22

Give to the Emperor the things that are the emperor’s,
and to God the things that are God’s.

You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

CHAPTER 23

Do not do as the Scribes and the Pharisees do, for they do not practice what they teach.

Woe to you! For you lock people out of the Kingdom of heaven.

Woe to you! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

CHAPTER 24

This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.

About the say and hour, no one knows.

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.



CHAPTER 25

Keep awake!

You have been trustworthy in a few things.
I will put you in charge of many things.
Enter into the joy of you master.

I was hungry and you gave me food.
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.
I was a foreigner and you welcomed me.
I was naked and you gave me clothing.
I was sick and you took care of me.
I was in prison and you visited me.

CHAPTER 26

They conspired to arrest Jesus, by stealth, and Kill him

She came with an alabaster jar of costly ointment. She poured it on his head.

They paid Judas 30 pieces of silver.

“Take and eat, this is my body.”

“Drink from this cup. This is the blood of my covenant, poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”


Sit here while I go pray.

The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.


Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.

You have said so.


The cock crowed.


Peter wept bitterly.

Judas went and hanged himself.

CHAPTER 27

Are you the King of the Jews?

You say so.

Free Barabbas!

Crucify him.

Pilate washed his hands.

Darkness came over the whole land.

The earth shook.

CHAPTER 28

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary went to the tomb.

“Do not be afraid!”

They left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy.

They worshiped him, but some doubted.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go. Make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

Remember:
I am with you always, to the end of the age."